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Human Genome Project Information Archive
1990–2003

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Human Genome News Archive Edition
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Vol. 11, No. 1-2, November 2000

In this issue... 

Available in PDF

HGP and the Private Sector

HGP Milestones

In the News

Ethical, Legal, and Social Issues

Web, Publications, Resources

Funding

Meeting Calendars & Acronyms

  • Genome and Biotechnology Meetings
  • Training Courses and Workshops
  • Acronyms

HGN archives and subscriptions

Human Genome Project Information home

Witnesses Testify About Patenting Genes

On July 13, witnesses presented testimony during a House of Representatives hearing on Gene Patents and Other Genomic Inventions held by the Committee on the Judiciary, Subcommittee on Courts and Intellectual Property. A complete transcript is at http://www.house.gov/judiciary/4.htm.

At the hearing, Harold Varmus (Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center) stated that some of the issued patents appear to reward the obvious in DNA sequencing and diminish the innovative work required to determine gene function and utility. This new environment, he said, has led many academic institutions to establish expensive offices to protect intellectual property and regulate the exchange of biological materials that once would have been shared freely. The use of new scientific findings has been hampered, and the open exchange of ideas and materials has been inhibited, he continued.

Dennis Hopper (Genentech, Inc.) testified that his company invests about $400million a year in the research and development of therapeutic products, focusing on identifying human proteins. He said patent protection and market exclusivity are very important considerations in making such investments.

Jon Merz (University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia) expressed concern about exclusive licensing of disease-gene patents that claim a gene sequence and one or more mutations leading to disease. In addition to covering all uses of the chemical sequences, patents claim all methods of diagnosing disease in a specific patient through the identification of the disclosed genetic alleles, mutations, or polymorphisms. Merz stated that some licensees thus are exercising their patent rights to prevent physiciansin particular, molecular pathologists from performing genetic testing on their patients.

Merz pointed out that most disease genes are found, at least in part, through federally funded research. Exclusive licensing is contrary to the longstanding policy that the public should not have to pay twice. Merz recommends reserving exclusive licensing for inventions that require substantial downstream investment. Other witnesses said that patents should be even more available to encourage the development of critically needed medical advances.

PTO Director Q. Todd Dickenson stated that both points of view are relevant and that his office is responsible for balancing them. To that end, he said, the PTO is finalizing guidelines to require the demonstration of real-world utility for gene-related patents, rather than just theoretical uses.


The electronic form of the newsletter may be cited in the following style:
Human Genome Program, U.S. Department of Energy, Human Genome News (v11n1-2).

Human Genome Project 1990–2003

The Human Genome Project (HGP) was an international 13-year effort, 1990 to 2003. Primary goals were to discover the complete set of human genes and make them accessible for further biological study, and determine the complete sequence of DNA bases in the human genome. See Timeline for more HGP history.

Human Genome News

Published from 1989 until 2002, this newsletter facilitated HGP communication, helped prevent duplication of research effort, and informed persons interested in genome research.